NASCAR considering changes to emulate Time Attack

[JamesE]

I have said for years that Time Attack is a valid form or motorsport because the cars we race are the same cars the general consumer can buy off the showroom floor. The products and services used to prepare our cars for racing are also often available to the general consumer. This helps fans of Time Attack relate to the cars and helps the sponsors of our series who produce those products and service get a return on investment.

Sounds like GM, Ford, Dodge, and Toyota are not too happy about the current status of NASCAR, and particularly dissatisfied with the bland car of tomorrow and how disconnected it is from the production car counterparts. According to Peter M. De Lorenzo of Autoextremist, NASCAR could be scraping the COT in favor of production based cars such as the Mustang, Camaro, Challenger, etc.

Wow. What's next? Right turns?

Link to Article at Autoextremist

[Gator]

^^ I was watching the NASCAR Performance segment on the NASCAR channel (that's Speed TV) the other night and the crew chiefs all said the series is going back to its "roots" in 2010. That would fit with what you said above and getting back to a car more grounded in reality.

[sharif@forged]

Sponsors hate the road course events because it's harder to see the logos on the car and follow the action.

I doubt Nascar will ever put a strong emphasis on road courses, as the fans, and sponsors apparently both prefer the super speedways and ovals.

But it would be great if they went to a semi-production based vehicle. That said, NASCAR has always been about the drivers, and not the cars. This is why NASCAR makes little business sense to the car manufacturers, IMHO.

[Gator]

Someone told me the reason Nascar is so popular is that the entire race can be seen from the fans seat. There may be some truth to that. I did not take it that road courses are what they mean. I took it that they allow more freedom to the teams and loosen the rules a bit. Don't be anal about keeping all the. same.

[Scott @ RA]

Originally Posted by JamesE

I have said for years that Time Attack is a valid form or motorsport because the cars we race are the same cars the general consumer can buy off the showroom floor. The products and services used to prepare our cars for racing are also often available to the general consumer. This helps fans of Time Attack relate to the cars and helps the sponsors of our series who produce those products and service get a return on investment.

Sounds like GM, Ford, Dodge, and Toyota are not too happy about the current status of NASCAR, and particularly dissatisfied with the bland car of tomorrow and how disconnected it is from the production car counterparts. According to Peter M. De Lorenzo of Autoextremist, NASCAR could be scraping the COT in favor of production based cars such as the Mustang, Camaro, Challenger, etc.

Wow. What's next? Right turns?

Link to Article at Autoextremist

LMAO... You guys are too funny. Some outsider views on NASCAR and the theorized reasoning for some of it is pretty funny...

As this being my industry and profession... I can say that what IS happening is that the newer NASCAR Nationwide series car of tomorrow (COT) that is following suit to its bigger brother Sprint Cup COT inception that started being phased in in 2007 in selective races and was completely converted by 2008.
The New NASCAR Nationwide COT is what they are referring to that is being based off of the "pony type" cars like the Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, etc. For some reason Chevy isn't sold on the idea and is not releasing the new Camero (yet) as their choice for their new COT Nationwide car design (Chevy will stick with the Impala for now). Toyota hasn't submitted a different choice for the series either so they are sticking with the Camery like they have in the Cup series as well.
This change will take place this year in five races and is planned to be the full time new Nationwide series car by 2011.
This move was mainly to add some differences and distinction between the two series'... for the fan to easier tell the difference between a Nationwide series car from the Sprint Cup series cars. It does also help the (participating) manufacturers to be able to incorporate a different style car into their NASCAR sales campaign.

You know what the car manufacturers say.... "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday"

[JamesE]

Thanks for chiming in Scott! Some differentiation between the series will be welcome.

[Gator]

I'm sure that's true Scott but the Speed channel show was all cup crew chiefs. They were the ones talking about Nascar getting back to its roots and allowing more crew specific changes. They did not elaborate though.

Sounds like we are talking about 2 different things I guess. It would make sense to differentiate the two cars. At least on tv I can't tell the difference. But then I don't watch that much Nascar.

[1LapSRT]

Originally Posted by JamesE

Thanks for chiming in Scott! Some differentiation between the series will be welcome.

Some similarity to the cars they represent would be even more welcome!

Since when do Chargers, Tauruses (or is that Taruii?) and Camry's all look the exact same?

[Scott @ RA]

Originally Posted by Gator

I'm sure that's true Scott but the Speed channel show was all cup crew chiefs. They were the ones talking about Nascar getting back to its roots and allowing more crew specific changes. They did not elaborate though.

Sounds like we are talking about 2 different things I guess. It would make sense to differentiate the two cars. At least on tv I can't tell the difference. But then I don't watch that much Nascar.

Yes Luther, two completely different subjects all together. What you are hearing the Sprint Cup crew chiefs say is that NASCAR officials are letting up on the rains as far as fines and suspensions go pertaining to on track conflicts and rivalries, rough driving disputes, what is said in interviews, etc. They are also giving a little more slack in a few areas in dictating what gear ratios and shock packages, pit crew personnel changes, etc. NASCAR has issued to us in drivers meetings during off season driver meetings and press conferences that they are going to relax and let us "get back to our roots" so to speak as far as self policing... Instead of them stepping in quite as much as they have been doing here the last few years. (LOL Let's see how that works out) That is what you are hearing about.....

[Scott @ RA]

Originally Posted by 1LapSRT

Some similarity to the cars they represent would be even more welcome!

Since when do Chargers, Tauruses (or is that Taruii?) and Camry's all look the exact same?

.... and since when do they all have cast iron block carbureted V8's, since when are they all RWD, since when do they still have 15" wheels, the list goes on and on and on..... I understand your point of views..

But I find it a little naive and silly for almost ANYBODY to question the tactics of the highest spectated sport in the country, the most successfully ran privately owned sport in the world, and the number one motorsport organization in the country..... there is things I question as well, but you cant help but take notice of the outrageous success that NASCAR has become.... there is a reason for everything, whether you or I understand it or not....

I don't try to question a PROVEN solution, maybe just try to understand it more, Just my .02